November19 2026 (Thu)
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
The Story of Astronomical Clock
Puppet opera
Říše loutek Theatre (Kindgom of Puppets)
60 minutes | Classical Music | Available
| Date: | November 19, 2026 | 19:00 (Thu) |
|---|---|
| Venue: | Říše loutek Theatre (Kindgom of Puppets) |
| Duration: | 60 minutes |
| Intermission: | No |
| Status: | Available |
Ticket in your mobile device accepted
No language barriers, pure visual magic: puppet opera about the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square
Almost everyone who visits the "City of a Hundred Spires" knows that the Astronomical Clock stands in the middle of Prague, on Old Town Square. Yet few Praguers realize that just a few steps away, in the Municipal Library, another world-unique piece of technology has been running for a hundred years — the mechanical puppet theatre Říše loutek (Kingdom of Puppets). Now imagine the Astronomical Clock coming to life on that very stage. The result is a unique spectacle that connects two remarkable Prague landmarks.
The production pays tribute to the unique and legendary Czech puppetry and the Old Town Astronomical Clock. The epic film and opera-style music, combining Latin, Czech, German, and Yiddish, completely replaces the spoken word in the production. Thanks to this, the creators break down any language barrier, and the result is accessible to both local family audiences and international visitors to Prague.
A key pillar of the entire project is the musical score by composer Jiří Hradil (who composed the music for the Minor Theatre productions *Zá-to-pek!* and *The Black Partisan*, and was also a member of Tata Bojs and the Kafka Band).
“We are seeking a universal theatrical language that does not require knowledge of the Czech language. Puppet theatre – perhaps alongside ballet – is one of the few theatrical forms capable of functioning without verbal communication. Theatre often relies precisely on the spoken word. Puppet theatre, however, relies on the theatrical image. Ninety per cent of what the audience sees is purely artistic – a visual language – and when used skilfully, it can be used to tell stories,” explains Janek Jirků.
What to expect?
- Look forward to a non-verbal puppet opera. The music features epic film and opera-style music, combining Latin, Czech, German, and Yiddish.
- Experience a "rarity within a rarity" - the unique story of an exceptional machine, told within the space of an exceptional theatre.
- Find out about a magical Prague full of mysteries, in a theatre where the age-old magic of puppetry comes alive and where reality intertwines with fantasy and legend.
- See a puppet theatre in many styles and forms: shadow puppets, marionettes, and hand puppets. The entire richness of the Czech puppetry tradition in fifty minutes. Puppets spooky and comic: trick puppets, wooden, transparent, and even invisible ones.
Who doesn't know the Astronomical Clock? An ancient clockwork mechanism with Death ringing its bell and twelve apostles who peer out from two blue windows hour after hour before crowds of tourists. The Astronomical Clock is a technological marvel, the oldest computer in Central Europe. Since 1409, using the same mechanics and the same setup, it has shown not only the precise time but also the movement of the Sun, the Moon, and the constellations across the Prague sky. At the same time, the Astronomical Clock is a keeper of time - a silent witness to history that has so often unfolded right in its immediate vicinity.
The apostle figures on the Astronomical Clock were carved by Vojtěch Sucharda - a celebrated Czech sculptor and a great lover of puppet theatre. It was he who, a hundred years ago, designed, built, and established Říše loutek Theatre. In its day, it was the most modern puppet theatre in the world, full of technical solutions and inventions that had no equal — and this theatre still stands and operates today. Puppetry is, moreover, one of the most distinctive Czech traditions, one even recognized on UNESCO's list of cultural heritage.
The production of puppets and set pieces is being overseen by the set design team of Jan Brejcha and Mikoláš Zika from Tabula rasa. The project is being developed under the ‘Puppet Stories’ banner, which builds on the work of the Kniha džunglí association, headed by producer Štěpán Kubišta (producer of *The Jungle Book* and *Má vlast*).
Storyline:
The story of the Astronomical Clock is loosely based on a well-known old Prague legend about the clockmaker Hanuš going blind. “The Old Town Astronomical Clock is very old. It dates back to the time when Jan Hus was still teaching at Prague University, unaware of how he would die or what his death would bring about. The astronomical clock is one of the oldest ‘computers’ north of the Alps and has been measuring time and showing the movement of the stars in the Prague sky for over 600 years. And it is fascinating to think of all that has taken place in its vicinity,” says director Janek Jirků.
Folk humour is represented in this new puppet play by the character of Kašpárek, who enters the service of Master Hanuš. “Master Hanuš’s story is gritty and gripping, but we also wanted to entertain the audience. So I looked for a character who would lighten the mood. I found inspiration in the puppet version of Faust and in *Old Legends of Prague*. I linked Kašpárek to the legend of an innocent child who can restart the stopped astronomical clock. In our version, the astronomical clock is saved by Kašpárek’s newborn daughter, and her little brothers become the 12 apostles who parade through the clock’s windows every hour. It’s simply a gripping tale and great fun at the same time,” says the director, inviting audiences to the performance.
Performing:
4 puppeteers and 1 puppeteer–musician (members of the Říše loutek theatre company under the direction of Jakub Hojka)
Important:
- Recommended age: 6+
- No language barrier
- No intermission
- Dress code: casual
See the Astronomical Clock - take a tour of the Old Town Hall.
